Grape plant named ‘Gratitude’

ABSTRACT

Description and specifications of a new and distinct grapevine cultivar named ‘Gratitude’ which originated from a hand-pollinated cross of A-1925 (non-patented, non-released breeding genotype; female)×A-1581 (non-patented, non-released breeding genotype; male). This new grapevine cultivar can be distinguished by its seedless, green, crisp berries with neutral flavor and resists cracking from rainfall at maturity. The fruit grows in large tight clusters, the vines have medium vigor, and the plants are healthy.

Latin name: Vitis labrusca L.×Vitis vinifera L.

Varietal denomination: ‘Gratitude’.

BACKGROUND

The new and distinct cultivar of grape named ‘Gratitude’ is describedherein. The new cultivar originated from a hand-pollinated cross ofA-1925 (female parent) and A-1581 (male parent) made in 1991. Theseedlings fruited in the summer of 1992 in a vineyard near Clarksville,Ark. and one was selected for its seedless, green, crisp berries withneutral flavor. The fruit grows in large tight clusters, the vines havemedium vigor and the plants are healthy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinct cultivar of grapevine originated from ahand-pollinated cross of A-1925 (non-patented, non-released genotype;female parent)×A-1581 (non-patented, non-released breeding genotype;male parent) made in 1991 near Clarksville, Ark. The instant cultivar isa hybrid of Vitis labrusca L. and Vitis vinifera L. The seeds resultingfrom this controlled hybridization were germinated in a greenhouseduring the winter of 1991-92. Resulting seedlings were planted in thespring of 1992 in a vineyard near Clarksville, Ark. The seedlingsfruited in the summer of 1994 and one seedling, designated ArkansasSelection 2505, was selected for its seedless, green, crisp berries withneutral flavor and resistance to fruit cracking in rainfall at maturity.The fruit grows in large tight clusters, the vines have medium vigor andthe plants are healthy.

During late 1994 and early 1995, the original plant selection waspropagated asexually at the above-noted location, by rooting hardwoodcuttings and a test planting of three vines was established. In allpropagations hardwood cuttings were used and the instant cultivar rootedreadily from hardwood cuttings. All propagules (resulting plants) of theinstant cultivar have been observed to be true to type in that duringall asexual multiplication, the vegetative and fruit characteristics ofthe original plant have been maintained. All vines planted from hardwoodcutting propagation fruited in the second or third season of growth inthe vineyard after planting.

Vines of the new cultivar have medium vigor, with a procumbent growthhabit characteristic of V. labrusca. It has produced well as own-rootedplants in all testing and has not been evaluated on any rootstocks.Hardiness of the vines has been very good, although slight winter injuryhas occurred on the vines when winter lows of 5° F. occurred but injurywas not seen at winter temperatures above this level.

The new cultivar is moderately resistant to powdery mildew (Erysiphenecator Schw. (syns. Uncinula necator (Schw.) Burr., E. tuckeri Berk.,U. americana Howe, and U. spiralis Berk. & Curt; anamorph Oidium tuckeriBerk.), downy mildew (Plasmopora viticola Berl. & Tomi.), andanthrancnose (Elsinoe ampelina (d. By.) Sher), but susceptible to blackrot (Guignardia bidwellii (Ell.) V. & R.). Fungal diseases can becontrolled by the use of available fungicides.

The new cultivar ripens its fruit in the late season, from August 19-28.The fruit is green in color at early maturity. It is evenly coloredwithin the cluster. The fruit shape is elongated oval. Fruit skins aremedium-thick and adhere to the flesh (has a non-slipskin texture). Theberries are medium (ca. 3.6 g). The flavor is neutral in character.Solids concentration of the juice at fruit maturity averages 19% withmedium acidity. The fruit is of the stenospermocarpic type ofseedlessness and usually contains no seed traces. Fruit clusters, borneusually one to two per shoot, are large and tightly filled with anaverage weight of 516 g. The fruit clusters are considered large insize, good for commercial markets, and the variety is also intended forhome garden planting.

The new cultivar has been named the ‘Gratitude’ cultivar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new varietyat eight years of age in color as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make in a color illustration of this character.

FIG. 1 is a photograph showing typical specimens of the fruit.

FIG. 2 is a photograph showing the leaf adaxial view.

FIG. 3 is a photograph showing the leaf abaxial view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

‘Gratitude’ differs from its female parent A-1925 in that it is seedlessand has green berry color compared to blue color for A-1925. ‘Gratitude’differs from it male parent A-1581 as this parent is blue/black in fruitcolor, and has much smaller clusters.

The following is a detailed description of the botanical and pomologicalcharacteristics of the subject grapevine. Color data are presented inRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart designations, 1986 version,second edition.

Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, itis to be understood that such characteristics are approximations ofaverages set forth as accurately as practicable.

The descriptions reported herein are from specimens grown nearClarksville, Ark. Vines used for measurement were irrigated usingtrickle (drip) irrigation. The data collection was from vines that were15 years old.

-   Vine:    -   -   Size.—Medium.        -   Growth.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Density of foliage.—Medium.        -   Productivity.—Moderately productive.        -   Rootstock.—None; vines tested were own-rooted vines.        -   Cold hardiness.—Slight winter injury has occurred on the            vines when winter lows of 5° F. occurred but injury was not            seen at winter temperatures above this level.        -   Shoots (current-season canes).—Color of shoots on the side            exposed to direct sunlight — Red-Purple Group (59A). Color            on the side shaded from the sun Yellow-Green Group (146C).            Anthocyanin present on the shoot sides exposed to direct            sunlight. Shoot attitude is procumbent.        -   Canes (mature measured in winter).—Color of mature cane:            base Greyed-Orange Group (165A); midpoint Greyed Orange            Group (165A); terminal Greyed-Orange Group (165A);            anthocyanin not observed on mature canes at base, midpoint,            or terminal. Length average 2.5 m with range of 1.1 to            3.4 m. Diameter of mature cane: base 1.1 cm, midpoint 0.7            cm, terminal 0.3 cm. Internode length: base 4.7 cm, midpoint            7.5 cm, terminal 6.5 cm. Lenticels present and dense on            mature canes and small (less than 0.5 mm in diameter). Canes            mature to tips in the fall.-   Trunk:    -   -   Shape.—Slender.        -   Trunk straps.—Long, split.        -   Surface texture.—Shaggy.        -   Inner bark color.—Greyed-Orange Group (166A).        -   Outer bark color.—Grey Group (201A).-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaves.—Leaves simple and alternate; shape orbicular; number            of lobes 1; petiole sinus shape open to half open; venation            palmate; margin serrated with shape of teeth convex and            teeth medium in size. Pubescence is sparse on mature leaves.            Color of mature leaves: base abaxial — Yellow-Green Group            (146B); base adaxial — Green Group (137B); midpoint abaxial            — Yellow-Green Group (146B); midpoint adaxial — Green Group            (137B); terminal abaxial — Yellow-Green Group (146B);            terminal adaxial — Green Group (137B). Anthocyanin present            lightly on the main and secondary veins. Color of young            leaves: base abaxial — Yellow-Green Group (146C); base            adaxial — Yellow-Green Group (146B); midpoint abaxial —            Yellow-Green Group (146D); midpoint adaxial — Yellow-Green            Group (146C); terminal abaxial — Yellow-Green Group (148D);            terminal adaxial — Yellow-Green Group (146C).        -   Petioles.—Color on young leaves — Yellow-Green Group (146D).            Color of mature petioles: abaxial side Yellow-Green Group            (146D), adaxial side Greyed-Red Group (182B). Petiole            anthocyanin present on the surface where it is most exposed            to sunlight. Sinus of mature leaf is 4.9 cm deep and 6.0 cm            at widest point. Mature leaves have sparse pubescence on            midrib, main veins and secondary veins. Young leaves have            medium pubescence on midrib, and sparse pubescence on main            veins and secondary veins.        -   Tendrils.—Intermittent and opposite the leaf node. Length            25.8 cm. Texture smooth and usually forked and curled on            distal end. Color of mature tendril Yellow-Green Group            (146C).        -   Buds.—Average number of buds on a current, single-season            cane 38. Dormant bud (compound bud or eye) width 3.4 mm;            shape triangular and slightly rounded. Color Greyed-Orange            Group (165A). Texture smooth.-   Disease resistance: Moderately resistant to powdery mildew, and    downy mildew; susceptible to black rot. Other disease or pest    susceptibilities not known.-   Flowers:    -   -   Sex.—Hermaphrodite.        -   Date of bloom.—May 11 (first); May 16 (full). Flowers per            cluster — 341.        -   Stamens.—Number: 5. Color: Green-White Group (157D).        -   Pistil.—Number: 1. Length: 3.0 mm. Color: Yellow-Green Group            (145A).        -   Pollen.—Color: Yellow Group (13C), normal and fertile. Petal            — Cap of 5 fused petals, flat and round. Color —            Yellow-Green group (147C).        -   Sepal.—None.-   Fruit:    -   -   Maturity.—Late season August 19-28.        -   Berry.—Shape — Elongated oval. Color — Yellow-Green Group            (146C). Size — Diameter at equator: 1.6 cm. Diameter at            base: 1.4 cm. Diameter at apex: 1.3 cm. Length: 2.4 cm.            Weight: 3.6 g; uniform in size. Texture — Non-slipskin. Skin            thickness — Medium. Seeds — Seedless with 0 seeds per berry.            Brush length — 5.48 mm. Flavor — Sweet, neutral flavor.            Soluble solids — 16.2%.        -   Juice.—pH — 3.7. Titratable acidity — 2.7 g/L tartaric acid.        -   Cluster.—Weight — 516 g. Length — 14.8 cm. Width — 5.0 cm.            Berries per cluster — 140-254, mean=207.4. Cluster per vine            — 47.4. Clusters per shoot — One to two. Peduncle length —            1.91 cm. Pedicle: Length — 1.50 cm. Diameter — 0.12 cm.            Color — Yellow-Green Group (146D). Use — Fresh consumption            as a table grape is the primary use particularly for local            markets. No processing evaluations done.-   The cultivar: The most distinctive features of the cultivar are its    seedless, crisp, green, thin-skinned berries with neutral flavor and    resistance to fruit cracking from rainfall at maturity, large, tight    clusters, medium vigor, and healthy plant.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of grape plant named‘Gratitude’ substantially as illustrated and described.